How were tombs protected in ancient Egypt?

Due to structural weaknesses, they were prone to subsidence and offered little protection from tomb robbers. However, in the first half of Dynasty 1, mud-brick liners in royal tombs were built far thicker to protect them from lateral tunnelling and collapse, and to bear a much stronger roof.

What happened to tomb robbers in ancient Egypt?

The punishment for grave robbing was a horrible and hideous death. No grave robber wanted to stick around. Because they were in a hurry, they often broke the cartouche, the name plate on the coffin, when they opened the coffin.

What features of the pyramid might help discourage tomb robbers?

The inside of each pyramid is filled with narrow passages, false burial chambers (to discourage tomb robbers) and several chambers which housed the pharoah’s body and his possessions. It was thought that the pharoah would need all of his possessions for passage into the next life.

How were the pyramids guarded?

Traps and secret passages were built inside a pyramid to catch robbers. The pyramid was guarded. Just the same, robbers could not seem to resist the lure of the great wealth inside. Many tombs were successfully robbed.

Do pyramids have traps inside?

No. Some pyramids did have slabs which slid into place to close off passageways. However, these were architectural features which essentially let the builders close the door behind themselves and it required significant effort to get those slabs in place when they were used. They were not traps.

How did the ancient Egyptians attempt to prevent tomb robbery?

The ancient Egyptians were unsuccessful in preventing tomb robbery. The Pyramids from the Old Kingdom were robbed in the chaotic intermediate periods, and were recorded as being emptied by the time of the Middle Kingdom.

Why do Egyptian tombs have so many security features?

To sum up, many aspects of the architecture of Egyptian tombs originate from security measures initially introduced to defend them from tomb robbery. Moreover, as these features evolved, during an ongoing ‘arms race’ between tomb builders and robbers, they were widely adopted and absorbed into normal tomb architecture.

How did the builders of the Great Pyramid try to prevent robbery?

The builders of the Great Pyramid used huge internal blocking stones to try to prevent robbery, and concealed the entrance with casing stones, but these measures were unsuccessful – robbers simply broke through the casing and broke through the blocking stones.

Are there any tombs that have been robbed?

Tombs That Have Been Raided. One of the most famous tombs, that of King Tutankhamen, had been robbed twice prior to its historic opening by Howard Carter early in the 20th century. The outer doorway contained a hole that had been replastered and sealed; this could only have been done by a tomb robber.